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GRAPHIC SKETCHES 

FROM 



OLD AND AUTHENTIC WORKS, 



ILLUSTRATING- 



THE COSTUME, HABITS, AND CHARACTER, 



Of THE 



ABORIGINES OF AMERICA 



TOGETHER WITH 

RARE AND CURIOUS FRAGMENTS RELATING TO THE DISCOVERY AND 
SETTLEMENT OF THE COUNTRY. 



, fttV of Co. 



186? ; 

NEW YORK: 
PUBLISHED BY J. & H. G. L ANGLE Y, 

NO. 57 CHATHAM STREET, 

1841, 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1840, by 
J. S. REDFIELD, 

the Clerk's office of the District Court of the Southern District of New York. 



PREFACE. 



A want has been long felt and acknowledged, of a 
work, that may come within the means of every one, on 
the subject of the Manners, Habits and Personal Appear- 
ance of the aborigines of our country, at the time of its 
discovery and settlement by the hardy adventurers that 
planted civilization on its shores, and began a new vol- 
ume in the history of the world. 

The great scarcity that the lapse of two centuries has 
occasioned, of contemporary works, and the changes in 
character and habits that were so suddenly introduced 
among them as the coming of the white man, have been 
the cause of many prevalent errors, that begin to wear 
the appearance of truth, and we have learned to regard 
the Indian through a lens of our own contrivance. 

It may be well imagined with what feelings of inter- 
est and curiosity, the old regarded the developement of 
the character and resources of the new world; how 
eagerly they crowded about the bold navigators that had 
returned from its shores, and sought the discourse and 



4 



PREFACE. 



page that could tell its wonders. Books were demand- 
ed, and they were produced, with every advantage and 
embellishment that enterprise and money could procure. 
As the bewildered traveller often finds his way most 
readily by retracing his steps, we turn to these venera- 
ble volumes, that are now only to be met with in rare 
collections, and placed out of sight and beyond the 
reach of the great mass of readers, as the surest sources 
of information. 

In the course of a laborious research among these 
old volumes, a valuable portfolio of drawings has been 
made from the engravings they contain, illustrating the 
early history of America ; the habits, costume, and 
character of the aborigines; the navigators by whom 
it was discovered; and the first colonists; which it is 
the purpose of this publication to present in a form suffi- 
ciently concise, and at a cost within the means of all ; 
for which it could only be executed by our peculiar 
good fortune in having the labor of years thus placed 
at once in our hands. 

We trespass, knowingly, on no preoccupied ground. 
An actual want of such information as "these sketches 
so admirably convey, has induced the undertaking, 
which will be continued with such energy as the ap- 
probation of the public and its support may warrant; 
thus laying the foundation ©f a useful and valuable 
depository of information connected' with, and illustra- 
ting the early history of our country. 

New York, Jan. 1st, 1841. The Publishers. 



Mm ' » • 



GRAPHIC SKETCHES. 



PART I, 

THE NATIVES OF VIRGINIA, 

By JOHN WYTH. 
1585 — 1588. 



INTRODUCTION. 



From the first collection of voyages published at Vi- 
cenza, in Italian, in the year 1507, under the title of 
" the New World and Countries newly discovered by 
Albericus (Americus) Vesputius" — to the close of that 
century, there are none that bear a comparison with the 
admirable work of De Bry ; especially on account of 
the many illustrations it contains, derived from the most 
authentic sources that it was possible to reach. Be- 
fore that, nothing in this way, with the exception of a 
few rude wood cuts in the work of Ranusio (1550) had 
appeared. 

Theodore De Bry possessed within himself, every 
requisite for the achievement of the great undertaking 
in which he embarked, being not only one of the most 
skilful engravers of his time, but largely engaged as a 
bookseller and publisher at Frankfort-on-the-Main, 
where he spent most of his days, and where, either on 
his own account, or in connexion with his sons John 
Theodore, and John Israel, he produced and published 



8 INTRODUCTION. 

a great number of plates and illustrated works. He 
was born at Liege in 1528 and died in 1598. 

In 1587 he made a visit to England, and there obtain- 
ed, through the influence and advice of Richard Haek- 
lyt, the celebrated compiler of voyages, the original 
drawings representing the inhabitants of the new world, 
that he afterwards engraved and published in his own 
great work, and which have always been considered 
the most valuable and authentic illustrations of the sort 
in existence. 

The undertaking was that of a man of enlarged views ; 
and its success fully proved, not only the soundness of 
his judgment, but the great skill with which he carried 
out his plan. The collection was at once put to press in 
Latin, French and German. There is reason to believe 
he contemplated an English edition, but it was never 
carried beyond the first part, which he published in 
1591. The French edition never went beyond the first, 
or at most the second part, and the Latin and German 
editions are all that were completed ; and they, from 
the detached manner in which they were published are 
extremely rare, and seldom to be met with in a complete 
form. The first part appeared in 1590, and six others 
followed during his life. After his death, his sons, 
in connexion with Meriam, the engraver, and Fitzer, 
the publisher, who married his daughters, continued the 
publication which seems to have become truly the pat- 
rimony of the De Bry family, who from the resources 



INTRODUCTION. 



9 



and union they possessed among themselves were ena- 
bled to carry out the design that had been left to them, 
in the full tide of successful experiment. 

The first part of the collection of De Bry is one in 
which we, as Americans, are most deeply interested, as 
it relates to the Aborigines of Virginia, a general title 
then given to a vast, unknown and undefined extent of 
country, claimed by England on the Continent of North 
America. 

The Engravings representing the inhabitants of Vir- 
ginia, have no direct reference to the subject matter of 
the original work, which consists of a Discourse or 
Memorial addressed to the Promoters and Protectors of 
the newly established colony at Roanoak island, in the 
present state of North Carolina, which of itself is very 
concise, and loses much of its interest in our day from the 
fact, that the nursling, for whom the author so earnestly 
pleads, has long since grown to a vigorous and healthful 
manhood, and, like most outcast and persecuted children, 
is likely to prove the Joseph of the family. In the de- 
velopement of the resources and products of the country 
there is much information to interest the botanist and 
the naturalist. But, it would so far exceed the limits 
to which we are restricted, to go into a subject that would 
lead us page by page to a volume, that may be better 
supplied by abler hands, that with a few leading mem- 
oranda and dates, we shall at once begin the series of 
illustrations of the habits, costumes and manners of the 

2 



10 INTRODUCTION. 

Aborigines, which we have copied : leaving the materials 
we have thus collected to the student, antiquarian, 
artist, and historian, to make of them such use as they 
may think proper. 

An increasing interest seems to have been kept alive 
in England, in the work of discovery, by the successful 
return of her navigators, bringing news of hitherto un- 
known lands and promises and hopes of greater achieve- 
ments, and still greater access of dominion to her crown. 
But, notwithstanding Sebastian Cabot had a century 
before, to use the phrase of an old writer, " ranged the 
greater part of the unknown world" under the flag and 
commision of a British Sovereign, it was not until 1584 
that serious efforts were made to establish a colony on 
its shores, and to. take actual possession. 

In that year " Queen Elizabeth granted letters patent 
to Sir Walter Raleigh, for the discovering and planting 
new lands and countries, not actually possessed by any 
"christian ;" who associating with him Sir Richard Gren- 
ville, and divers other gentlemen and merchants, equip- 
ped two vessels immediately ; which they placed under 
the command of Captain Philip Amidas, and Captain 
Barlow, who sailed from the Thames on the twenty- 
seventh day of April, taking the southerly route by the 
Canaries and West Indies. 

On the second of July they fell in with the coast of 
Florida in shoal water ; where they were greeted with 
a " most delicate sweet smell, though they saw no land," 



INTRODUCTION. 



11 



which ere long they spied, and coasted along it for a 
hundred and twenty miles, without finding any harbour. 
The first that appeared they entered with much difficul- 
ty, and anchored. Then returning thanks to God, they 
landed and took possession in the Queen's name. They 
found their landing place sandy and low, " but so full 
of grapes, that the very surge of the sea sometimes over- 
flowed them : of which they found such plenty in all 
places, both in the sand, the green sail and the hills, as 
in the plains ; \s well on every little shrub as also climb- 
ing toward the top of high cedars, that they did think 
in the world were not the like abundance." The place 
where they landed proved to be an island called Wokokon. 

For three days after their arrival they saw none of 
the inhabitants. On the third day three of them ap- 
peared in a little boat, one of whom suffering himself to 
be taken without resistance, came boldly on board 
the vessel, and was dismissed with presents with which 
he seemed well pleased. 

The next day came many boats, and in one of them 
the king's brother with forty or fifty men, " proper peo- 
ple, and in their behaviour very civil." His name was 
Granganameo, they called their king Wingina, and their 
country Wingandacoa. Leaving his boats at a short 
distance from the ships, he came with his train to the 
point, where spreading a mat he sat down. Though the 
strangers came to him armed, he evinced no fear or dis- 
trust, stroking his head and breast and theirs also with 



12 



INTRODUCTION. 



his hand in sign of peace and friendship. He then ad- 
dressed them in a long speech, and accepted the pres- 
ents offered him. He was greatly regarded by his peo- 
ple, for all stood in silence but four, on whom presents 
were also bestowed, but he took them away, and made 
signs to indicate that every thing belonged to him. 

The king himself was absent, in consequence of 
wounds he had received in a recent battle. 

Granganameo repeated his visits, came on board the 
ships with confidence, and brought with him his wife 
and children. They were of mean stature, but well 
favored and bashful. She had a long coat of leather, 
and about her forehead a band of white coral, and so v 
had her husband : in her ears were strings of pearls 
hanging down to her middle, of the size of large peas ; 
the rest of the women had pendents of copper, and the 
noblemen five or six in each ear. His apparel was sim- 
ilar to that of his wife, only the women wear their hair 
long on both sides, and the men on one. Their hair is 
black, but there were seen children having it of a light 
chesnut color. 

On one of their visits, Granganameo took a great 
fancy for a pewter dish, that so pleased him that he gave 
twenty deer skins for it, and hung it about his neck in 
great pride. For a copper kettle he gave fifty deer 
skins. For an armour he would have given a bag of 
pearls, but the English affected an indifference to their 
value, in order to ascertain the place from whence they 



INTRODUCTION. 



13 



were derived. He was just to his promise, ever came 
true to his appointed time, and daily sent presents of 
game and fruits. 

From thence a party proceeded in exploring the 
neighboring coast, and landed at the island of Roanoak, 
where ultimately the location of a colony was fixed. 

In 1586 another expedition was undertaken, under 
the command of Grenville, at the expense of a company 
formed for the support of the colony, but with the most 
unfortunate results, and Sir Francis Drake having sailed 
along the coast of Virginia, was prevailed upon by the 
colonists to take them back to England. 

Efforts were renewed in 1587, by Sir Walter Raleigh 
and Sir Richard Grenville, for the reestablishment of 

Q 

the colony, and under these circumstances one of the 
English, who had made the voyage to Virginia, address- 
ed the discourse to the company which De Bry has em- 
bodied in his work. It was evidently written to do 
away with the prejudices that had been excited against 
the country, by the disappointed men who had returned, 
awakened from their golden dreams, by a reality that 
they may have painted in its darkest colors, by way of 
apology for their own instability. It was printed orig- 
inally in London, in the year 1588. 

In former expeditions to Virginia, an English painter 
by the name of John Wyth had been sent by Queen 
Elizabeth to draw the topography, and represent from 
nature, the form of person of the inhabitants, their 



14 



INTRODUCTION. 



clothing, customs, and manner of living-. These Theo- 
dore De Bry procured in his visit to England, in 1587, 
engraved and published in the first part of his great 
work, in 1590. From the Latin edition of which we 
have copied, in outline, the illustrations, as best adapted 
to indicate with distinctness the forms and details of 
objects in the first place, and in the next we are thus 
enabled to bring our publication within the means of 
every school and library, public and private, in the coun 
try. 

To those who have formed their ideas of the costume 
and habits of the Indians from what they are, rather 
than what they were ; before the arts of civilized life had 
placed within their^each the means of personal decora- 
tion ; and its vices and passions taught them the shame 
of nakedness, these representations may seem unreal ; 
but executed as they were originally, from personal ob- 
servation, and engraved and published to the world in the 
face of so many living witnesses of their truth, the pre- 
sumption in their favor is sufficiently strong to challenge 
any objection we may urge against their authenticity, 
after having stood the scrutiny of more than two centu- 
ries. Among the Indians of the many little villages 
about Roanoak, the moccasin, the leggin, and the ample 
cloak of fur or skin, seem to have been used by old men 
alone, and then only as a protection from the partial 
winter of their mild climate. The simplicity of their 



INTRODUCTION. 



15 



wants, their lives and habits taught them no other re- 
quirements for clothing. 

If further evidence were requisite to establish the 
truth of the designs of Wyth, the fact of their having 
been so often copied in other works might be mention- 
ed, and a long list of witnesses brought forward in their 
defence ; but it is deemed unnecessary, and we at once 
proceed to the task we have undertaken, in the confi- 
dence that our labors will meet the approbation of the 
American public, to whom they are respectfully ded- 
icated. 



PORTRAITS TO THE LIFE 



AND 



MANNERS OF THE INHABITANTS, 



OF THAT PROVINCE IN 



AMERICA, 



CALLED 



VIRGINIA; 



IN CHARGE OF THE HONOURABLE GENTLEMAN, SIR WALTER RALEIGH j 
KNIGHT AND STEWARD OF THE STANNARIES IN CORNWALL AND 
EXETER, BT LICENCE AND AUTHORITY GRANTED IN THE 
TEAR 1585, FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF THE NEW 
PROVINCES, BY THE MOST SERENE 
QUEEN OF ENGLAND 
ELIZABETH. 



tofjole carefitlls etetutefr aitir fcraton to t&e life, 62 BEr¥CJ& 
sent forti) to t&at jirobtnee in tje sears 1585 to 1588, aftertoarirs en* 
grabeir on cojjpee, anir first jm6ltsf)e& fi£ Sn&eoirore 3Se 3&v$, 1590. 



NEW YORK: 



PUBLISHED BY J. & H. G. L ANGLE Y. 



1841, 



• Li B 



11% 



V7V 



PLATE 1 = 



THE ARRIVAL OF THE ENGLISH IN 
VIRGINIA. 

The coast of Virginia abounds with islands that ren 
^.der the approach to it both difficult and hazardous ; for, 
although the inlets are numerous, they are extremeiy 
shallow and it was not until after repeated trials that we 
could find one affording a safe entrance, which is now 
well known, however, to the English. Having passed 
the inlet, we discovered a large river which we were un- 
able to enter in consequence of the sand drifted across 
its mouth by the tides, and continued our course to a 
large island, the inhabitants of which, as soon as they 
perceived us, raised a loud and terrible yell, as if they had 
never seen men the like of us before, betaking themselves 
to flight, and howling like so many wild furious beasts. 
But, by exhibiting the presents we had with us, such 
as knives, beads, looking-glasses and the like, they soon 
grew more friendly, and on being satisfied of our pacific 
intentions made us welcome. We were conducted to 
their town called Roanoak and then to their Wer owance, 
or chief, who received us kindly, although much suprised 
by our appearance. 

Such was our coming into that part of the new world 
which we call Virginia : the personal appearance, cos- 
tume, habits, feasts and ceremonies of whose inhabitants 
we shall severally present to view. 



PLATES 2, and 3. 



A CHIEF, OR PRINCE, IN VIRGINIA. 

In this fashion the Virginian Chiefs, or Princes, shew 
themselves in public. Their hair is forced backward, 
and collected in a knot over the ear, except that on the 
crown of the head it is cropped, and made to stand up 
in a crest, like the comb of a cock, where it is ornament- 
ed with a bright colored feather, and two smaller ones 
are placed at each side. They hang in their ears rude 
pearls, or such ornament as they may fancy, the foot of 
a bird or such like. They tattoo or paint their foreheads, 
cheeks, arms, legs and bodies, and hang about their 
necks, strings of rough pearls, or beads of copper of their 
own manufacture, as well as bracelets on their wrists. 
On their chests may be observed the scars of wounds 
inflicted on themselves, to produce a discharge of blood 
in time of sickness. A finely dressed skin covers their 
loins, with the tail left to hang behind, to which they 
attach their quiver, made of bulrushes tied together. 
Thus with a bow in one hand and an arrow in the other, 
they are prepared for defence. 

In this costume they go to war, or attend certain an- 
nual ceremonies or feasts. They are fond of hunting 
the deer with which the country abounds, for it is 
pleasant, fruitful, and well wooded. In the rivers are 
found fish of various kinds. 

In preparing for war they paint themselves in the 
most horrible manner possible. 



TLATE 3 





w / 



PLATE 4. 



NOBLE WOMAN OF SECOTAN. 

The women of Secotan are well enough formed. 
When they walk abroad they carry their arms folded, 
and are dressed in a finely tanned skin reaching from 
the waist nearly to the knees, the rest of the person is 
naked. Their hair is cut short in front, parted and 
thrown back, falling thinly over the shoulders, and kept 
together by a sort of coronet. Their foreheads, cheeks, 
arms and legs are tattooed, and a sort of collar is tattooed 
or painted about their necks. Small eyes, flat noses, 
low foreheads, and large mouths are the prevailing char- 
acteristics of their faces. 

In their ears are hung long pearls, small bones well 
polished, or such like trifles. The pearls, however, are 
not so large as those worn by the women of Florida. 
They are fond of strolling in the fields and along the 
banks of the rivers, to watch the chace, or taking of fish. 




# 



PLATE 5. 





PLATES 5. and 6 . 



PRIEST OF SECOTAN. 

Their priests are men advanced in years, and posses- 
sed of superior knowledge to the rest. They have their 
hair cropped and in a crest on the crown of the head* 
in the general fashion ; with the exception that it is 
trimmed in front, like the rim of a hat. In their ears 
are long drops. Their cloaks are made of soft skins 
very finely dressed, with the hair outside. The rest of 
their persons is naked. They are considered great con- 
jurers, and resort much to the river to favor the sport of 
shooting ducks, swans and other birds, with the bow and 
arrow. 



ELATE 6. 




PLATE 7. 



NOBLE GIRL OF SECOTAN. 

In Secotan the young girls of rank are dressed much 
in the same fashion as the women before mentioned, 
with the exception, that, instead of the collar tattooed or 
painted about the neck, they wear a necklace of large 
pearls intermixed with copper beads or bits of polished 
bone. 

They tatoo their cheeks, arms and legs ; their hair is 
cut in front in double folds and collected behind in a 
knot, as represented ; they are stout, with eyes expres- 
sing much modesty, and they generally have their hands 
on their shoulders. They amuse themselves, fishing in 
the creeks and rivers. 



4 



PLATES 8, and 9 . 



A CHIEF OF ROANOAK. 

The chief men of the island and town of Roanoak 
wear their hair cropped, parted and in a crest like the 
others ; except that it is carried back and tied behind 
like a woman's. They hang a string of pearls, or other 
beads in use among them, from their ears, and have 
bracelets of the same. They neither paint nor tattoo 
their bodies, but as a token of rank and authority, sus- 
pend by a string of beads about their neck a square 
plate of copper on their breasts. A skin very finely 
dressed and ornamented with fringe, etc., like the wo- 
men, extends from the waist nearly to the knees. When 
they walk abroad they carry their arms folded, with a 
knowing air. 

The island of Roanoak is pleasant and abounds with 
fish. 



PLATE 10. 



NOBLE MATRON OF POMEIOCK. 

About twenty miles from Roanoak island, near the 
Lake of Paguippe, there is another town not far from 
the sea, called Pomeiock, in which the costume of the 
better sort of women differs but little from those of 
Roanoak. 

They wear their hair in a knot, like the young 
women before represented ; and are in like manner 
tattooed. They hang around their necks four or five 
strings of beads, in which one hand is slung ; and gen- 
erally carry in the other, a gourd filled with a sweet 
sort of liquor. The skin worn by them is doubled and 
extends nearly to the knees in front; the rest of their 
persons being entirely naked. 

It is truly pleasing to behold the native Indians, now 
wading along the shore, or running hither and thither 
in their tranquil rivers, free from every solicitude for 
the acquisition of riches for themselves, or their pos- 
terity, content with their lot, and receiving a bountiful 
supply of the few real wants of life, from the hand of 
Providence. 

In this only, the privation of a knowledge of God, 
are they barbarians. 



PLATE 11. 



OLD MAN OF POMEIOCK. 

(Winter Dress.) 

The old men of Pomeiock are clothed in a large skin, 
which gathered on the shoulder, hangs below the knees. 
One arm is left bare for use* These skins are either 
prepared with the fur on, or are lined with the soft fur 
of some other animal. 

The young men do not suffer their beards to grow* 
but pluck it out as soon as it appears. Occasionally 
among the old men a little beard may be seen, but it is 
rare. # 

The country adjacent to Pomeiock is very fruitful 
and pleasant, indeed, there is nothing in England to 
compare with it. 



/ 



/ 



PLATE 12. 



WOMEN OF DASAMONQUEPEUCK. 

(Manner of carrying their children.) 

In the town of Dasamonquepeuck, four or five miles 
from Roanoak, the women dress and tattoo themselves 
much in the same manner as those in that place ; ex- 
cept that they have not bands or coronets about their 
heads, and they do not tattoo their legs. 

They have a remarkable manner of carrying their 
children, as shewn in the picture. 



/ 




PLATE 13. 



A PRIEST OR CONJURER. 

There are common among them, certain Priests, or 
conjurers, familiar with the devil ; who, in their incan- 
tations make most strange and unnatural gesticulations. 

Their heads are shaven, except on the crown, where 
it is in a crest like the rest, and they wear a bird above 
the ear, as a symbol of their black art. They go naked 
with the exception of a skin hung before, and kept up 
by a string about the loins ; to which is also suspended 
a pouch, as represented. The natives have great faith 
in their predictions which are often verified. 



PLATE 14. 



METHOD OF MAKING BOATS 
IN VIRGINIA. 

# 

The method of making boats in Virginia is very re- 
markable ; for, without iron or other tools, such as we 
have, they make them not less convenient and suitable, 
for navigating their rivers and fishing. 

A tree being selected, of such size and height as they 
desire, they surround it about the roots with a slow fire, 
which being fed with chips and moss gradually burns 
it off. The top and branches are in like manner burnt 
off, and the thickness of the tree retained for the width 
of the boat. It is then placed upon forks and cross- 
pieces at a convenient height from the ground — the bark 
being removed with shells, they retain the exterior entire 
for the bottom of the boat, and on the other side, kindle 
a fire the whole length of the log. After it is sufficient- 
ly burnt they scrape away the charcoal with shells, re- 
new the fire, and thus alternately by means of fire and 
scraping, fashion their boats. 



PLATE 15. 



«4 ■ 

FISHING IN VIRGINIA. 

The natives of Virginia have a curious method of 
fishing, and supply the want of steel or iron by fixing 
to the end of long poles or reeds, the horny tail of a 
certain fish like a sea-crab with which, with wonderful 
dexterity they spear fish either day or night. 

They have another method of taking fish by means 
of certain mats fixed in the water with sticks, like a 
fence ; which woven into a strait, gradually contracts 
as shewn in the design. A more cunning trap for fish 
is not known in England ; of which many kinds are 
found in the rivers in Virginia, and of very great 
strength. 

It is truly pleasing to behold the native indians, now 
wading along the shore, or running hither and thither 
in their tranquil rivers, free from every solicitude for 
the acquisition of riches for themselves, or their pos- 
terity, content with their lot, and receiving a bountiful 
supply of the few real wants of life, from the hand of 
Providence. 

In this only, the privation of a knowledge of God, 
are they barbarians. 



PLATE 16. 



WOODEN RACKS FOR COOKING 
FISH. 

The fish are carried to a convenient place, where 
four forked sticks are driven into the ground, across 
which others are laid as represented, and on these, the 
fish are placed and the fire is lighted; but not as may 
be perceived, in the same manner as is the custom with 
the inhabitants of Florida. 



PLATE 17. 



COOKING IN EARTHEN POTS. 

The women make earthen pots of various shapes 
with much art, as round and often well formed as if 
they had come from a potter's wheel. These they 
carry about and make much the same use of, as we do 
in England of brazen vessels. Filled with water they 
are placed upon the fire, and fruit, flesh, corn, etc, 
thrown in and cooked together, forming a sort of sal- 
magundi, which is laid upon platters, and served to the 
assembly. They take their meals together, and with 
commendable moderation. 



I 



PLATE 18. 



MANNER OF EATING. 

In this fashion they take their meals : — The women 
on one side and the men on the other ; seated in a cir- 
cle on a rush mat, with a tray of boiled maize in the 
midst, and other food, such as the flesh of deer, fish, &c. 



PLATE 19. 



THE SOLEMN FEAST OF FIRE. 

On the occasion of deliverance from dangers by 
sea or land, or at the close of a war, they build a fire, 
around which they seat themselves, men and women 
together ; and rejoice with singing and making a great 
noise with a sort of rattle, formed of a dry gourd filled 
with stones and having a stick run through it for a 
handle ; as I myself have witnessed and delineated, for 
it is a rare thing and worthy of observation. 



PLATE 20. 



VIRGINIAN DANCE AT A SOLEMN 
FEAST. 

At a certain time in the year, a great and solemn 
feast is celebrated, at which all the inhabitants of the 
neighboring- towns are collected, decorated in their out- 
landish fashions, and having on their shoulders the 
marks that designate the places of their nativity. 

A large area is enclosed by posts rudely carved with 
faces, around which they dance, sing and make the 
most uncouth gesticulations, while three of their most 
beautiful young women, with arms entwined, dance and 
leap around together in the centre. This takes place 
after sunset to avoid the heat ; and, as one party be- 
comes wearied, another succeeds, until they are ready 
to assemble at the feast. 



I 



PLATE 2.1 



- 




PLATE 21 . 



TOWN OF POMEIOCK. 

The towns in Virginia are very like those of Florida, 
not, however, so well and firmly built ; and are enclosed 
by a circular palisade with a narrow entrance. 

In the town of Pomeiock, the buildings are mostly 
those of the chiefs, and men of rank. On one side, 
is the Temple (a) of a circular shape, apart from the 
rest, and covered with mats on every side ; without 
windows, and receiving no light except through the 
entrance. The residence of their chiefs (b) are con- 
structed with poles fixed in the ground, bound together 
and covered with mats, which are thrown off at pleasure, 
to admit as much light and air as they may require. 
Some are covered with the boughs of trees. 

The natives, as represented in the plate, are indulging 
in their sports. When the spring or pond is at a dis- 
tance from the town, they dig a ditch from it that sup- 
plies them with water. 



I 



PLATE 2 2. 



TOWN OF SECOTAN. 

Some of their towns are not enclosed with a palisade 
and are much more pleasant. Secotan, for example 
here drawn from nature : — Where the houses are more 
scattered and a greater degree of comfort and cultiva- 
tion is observable ; with gardens in which tobacco (e) 
is cultivated, woods filled with deer, and fields of corn. 
In the fields they erect a stage, (f) in which a sentry 
is stationed to guard against the depredations of birds 
and thieves. Their corn they plant in rows, (h) for it 
grows so large, with thick stock and broad leaves, that 
one plant would stint the other and it would never arrive 
at maturity, (g). They have also a curious place, (c) 
where they convene with their neighbors at their feasts ; 
as more fully shown in plate 20, and from thence they go 
to the feast, (d). On the opposite side is their place of 
prayer, (b) and near to it the sepulchre of their chiefs, 
(a) the interior of which will be shown in the following 
plate. They have gardens for mellons, (i) and a place 
(k) where they build their sacred fires. At a little 
distance from the town is the pond, (l) from which they 
obtain their supply of water. 



4 



PLATE 28. 



EI WAS A THE IDOL. 

The Virginians have an idol which they call Kiwasa. 
It is about four feet high, made of wood and its head is 
reported to have been taken from the people of Florida. 
The face is painted red, breast white^ and the rest of 
the body black. The legs are variegated with white. 
Around the neck is suspended a necklace of white beads, 
mixed with larger ones of copper; which they esteem 
far more valuable than gold or silver. 

This idol is placed in the temple at Secotan, as the 
guardian of the dead bodies of their chiefs. Sometimes 
they have two of these idols in their temples, never 
more ; and when seen in a gloomy place, by an uncer- 
tain light, they are horrible objects. 

SEPULCHRES OF THEIR CHIEFS. 

On a platform nine or ten feet high, are placed the 
dead bodies of their Werowans, or chiefs; after having 
removed the bowels and fleshy parts, which are dried 
and enclosed in boxes at the feet of the skeletons, over 
which the skin is replaced. Above them is seen their 
guardian Kiwasa, and beneath, the habitation of the 
priest, who, night and day, mutters prayers and watcher 
the dead. 



f%4# 




Mr' ■ 



